Zipper actuator



June 7, 1960 M. MORGAN 2,939,193

ZIPPER AcTUAToR Filed Feb. 1o, 1958 MYLES MORGAN INVENToR.

mK/m4@ ATTORNEY United States Patent() ZIPPER ACTUATOR Myles Morgan, 3Academy St., Worcester, Mass. Filed Feb. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 714,087 2claims. (cl. z4zos.1s)

This invention relates to a zipper actuator and more particularly to -adevice for use with a slide fastener of the type commonly used in thefastening of clothing.

Slide fasteners, commonly called zippers, are often used as fastenersfor use with clothing. In some circumstances, the slide `fastener isused in parts of the clothing where it is not only difficult to actuatethe slide but considerable difculty is experienced with the fact thatythe fastener engages and grasps the clothing and flesh underlying thefastener. This is particularly true when the slide fastener is used onthe back of a womans dress; not only is it dilcult to reach this part ofthe hum-an body but the movement of the body necessary to accomplish thedrawing of the fastener also results in a wrinkling and bulging of thecloth underlying the dress. This is particularly true when, las veryoften occurs at the present time, the dress is quite tight and the slidefastener is relied upon to draw the dress tightly about the body. Theseand other difculties experienced with the prior art devices have beenobviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a zipperactuator capable of fastening and unfastening a slide fastener which issituated in a relatively inaccessible part of the body. v

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of anactuator for use with a slide fastener which is capable of drawing theslide without experiencing the difliculty of the fastener engaging andgrasping clothing or flesh underlying the fastener.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a zipperactuator of very simple construction which can be readily operated andwhich is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthis invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appendedhereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the modeof its operation and the manner of its organization may be betterunderstood by referring to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which:

The single figure is an elevational View of an article of clothinghaving a slide fastener used in conjunction with an actuator embodyingthe principles of the Apresent invention.

Referring to the drawing, it can be seen that the zipper actuator,designated generally by the reference numeral 10, is being used inconjunction with a zipper or slide fastener 11 which is incorporated inan article of clothing 12. The article of clothing, which is shown onlyin a fragmentary manner, is illustrative of a portion of the back of awomans dress having a vertical opening 13 adapted to be closed by theslide fastener 11. The slide fastener consists of a lefthand track 14and a right-hand track 15 suitably sewn to the edges of the opening 13of the garment. Each track consists of a 2,939,193 Patented June 7, 1960ICC series of small lingers adapted to be inter-engaged by means. of -aslide 16 which has a finger 17 pivotly at'- tached to its upper portion.The finger 17 is provided at its outer portion with an aperture 18.

The actuator 10 is provided with a hook -19 having a loop 21 engagingthe bottom link of a flexible member such as a chain 22. At its otherend the chain 22 is attached to a nger ring 23. At an intermediate`point the chain 22 passes through an aperture 24 formed in the upperend of a shield 25. Preferably, the shield 25 is of a broad ovalconformation with a generally pointed portion at one end through whichthe aperture 24 passes. The shield 25 is preferably formed of plastic,is fairly thin, and is provided with beveled or rounded edges. The chain22 is provided with a link 26 which is considerably smaller than theother links in the chain. The -aperture 24 is of such la size that thelink 26 may reside -in it, but the links on either side may not passthrough the aperture so that the shield 25 is effectively retained Iinone place. 'Ihe shield is selected of such a size and fastened at such apoint in the chain 22 that when the chain, hook, and shield aresuspended from the finger vring 23 the shield lies beside the hook 19with the hook approximately in the center of the shield, as is shown inthe drawing.

The operation of the invention will now be readily understood in view ofthe above description. Let us assume that the zipper 11 is used to closean opening 13 in the back of a dress 12. The slidable fastener 11 wouldnormally be closed by moving the slide 16 upwardly to draw the tracks 14and 15 together to closed position shown in the lower part of thedrawing. This is done by grasping the tab 17 between the ngers anddrawing in the direction of the track. However, when the slidablefastener is incorporated in the back of a dress it is very dii'licultfor a person to twist his arm around and grasp the tab 17. Therefore,the person wearing the dress passes the hook 19 of the invention throughthe aperture 18 fand the tab 17. This may be done before the clothing isput on or, if the lower part of the zipper is far enough down in theback, while the clothing is on ones person. Then the chain 22 is passedupwardly and over the shoulder and the linger ring 23 is grasped to pullupwardly on the chain. At the time the hook is engaged, however, theshield 25 is placed between the dress 12 and the body or clothunderlying it, as is shown on the drawing. The upward pulling on thechain 22 causes the slide 16 to move upwardly and join the tracks 14 and15 in the usual manner. The shield 25 assures that no cloth or esh comesin contact with the fastener 11 so that there is no interference withthe fastening of the zipper.

While certain novel features of the invention have been shown anddescribed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will beunderstood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in theforms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may bemade by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

The invention having been thus described what `is claimed as new anddesired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A zipper actuator for use with a slide fastener located in aninaccessible portion of a garment, comprising a finger ring adapted tobe grasped by the person wearing the garment, a hook adapted to bepassed through the aperture of the slide of the fastener, an elongatedchain joining the ring and the hook, a broad, at, platelike, rigidshield loosely fastened at one extremity of the shield to the chain soas to hang beside the hook when the chain and hook are suspended fromthe ring, the shield serving to prevent the engagement by the fastenerof a body underlying it when the shield is placed between the slide andthe body, the shield having an aperture at said one extremity throughwhich the chain passes and by which it is fastened thereto, the hainhaving a small link residing in the aperture in the Shield, the links ofthe chain on either side of .the small link being too large to passthrough the said aperture in the shield.

2. A zipper actuator for use with a slide fastener located in aninaccessible portion of a garment, comprising a finger grip adapted tobe grasped by the person wearing the garment, a hook adapted to bepassed through the aperture of the slide of the fastener, an ,elongatedchain joining the grip and the hook, 1a broad, ilat,plate like, rigidshield loosely fastened at one extremity of .the shield to the chain soas to hang besidethe hook when the chain `and hook aresuspended from thegrip, thepoint at which Vthe shield .is fastened to the chain being avsubstantial distance from kthe hook so that the 4 hook is normallylocated generally centrally of the shield so that a substantial lengthof chain exists between the hoo-k and the said point, the shield servingto prevent engagement by the fastener of a body underlying it when theshield is placed between the slide and the body, the shield having anaperture at the said one extremity to which the chain is attached and bywhich it is fastened thereto, and means forming part of the chaininsuring against movement of the shield longitudinally of the 10 chain.

References Cited in the lle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 152,531,805 Clark Nov. 28, 1950 2,811,763 Jordan Nov. 5, 1957 2,820,273McColly Jan. 21, 1958 2,887,752 Maio May 26, 1959 12,888,728 VLebermannJune 2, 1959

